On planet Ohnah, discoveries are made through visions and dreams.
King Fizayer is busy ruling his kingdom and solving everyday disputes in his court. Sudden visions of past reveals to him his beautiful Aqeruh, soulmate. She has made him almost fera...
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Anxiety came in bouts. It circled around me, manhandled me into believing worst-case scenarios.
Fizayer kept me relaxed but the dread never wandered too far away from my mind. It always returned. The maid who was in charge of my food kept fussing around me.
Softly scolding me to eat more as I was losing weight. The worry about my marriage kept me awake at night. A momentous weight had permanently settled on my chest since the news.
Around me, there was a flurry of activities. Questions, measurements, trials, corrections followed by the same questions summed up my routine for the last two days.
When the former queen announced the date, I thought it was a joke. But here I was, two days later still coming to terms with it. Only the strangers milling about in my room, coming back and forth, asking for my tastes and preferences tethered me to reality.
A reality that was now waiting to become more real in just a matter of hours. My mother was always with me. Her presence made a huge difference.
Finally, I looked at the three-wide mirrors and reflected on my reflection. Adorned with royal stones from head to toe, I was like a treasure box for the king to open. The purple sheath gown hugged me but stretched more on my hips. The only thing delicate about me was my dainty blue crown.
As if the royal stones weren't enough in my hair, neck, and arms, the couturier sewed them in my gown as well. Although they were comparatively little and tastefully done, still, the idea of converting me into a jewelry box was too much for me.
The over-crowdedness on my body matched the spinning thoughts in my mind. I was oxygen-deprived. Turning away from the mirror, I paced the length of the room.
My feet froze at the deceptively soft knock.
*It was time*
My mother silently took my palm and squeezed it. Her frown was the only indication that she was worried about me.
Gulping down the water straight from the pitcher, I straightened up my spine and feigned confidence.
The little hallway was lit in varying orange lights. I focused on nothing in particular. Soon, the carpeted floor turned into white marble and swiftly into a glass floor.
The sound of the clinking of glasses reached me. Laughter intermingled with the delicious smell of food. Involuntarily, my stomach shrunk and growled at the same time.
Mesmerized by the glass floor, I inspected whatever it was reflecting. An orange spiral on the white ceiling caught my eye. A shimmering figure swayed a little before coming closer and closer.
"Imeeshi," Domina softly called me. She was looking stunning in a figure-hugging white shimmering gown. I could hardly take my eyes off her beauty.
"You look beautiful," we both said at the same time.
We laughed. It eased me instantly. I started to notice then, the huge spread on the round table, the music, people dancing. Guards were everywhere. My father smiled at me when I found him and I smiled back. I leaned my head when I saw the former king who was standing next to Calmone and Fizayer!
God, he was so handsome. Covered in a black silk robe, he looked striking in a broad purple belt laden with royal stones. His crown was pure black. It was almost difficult to make out if there was even anything on his head.
His intense grey eyes, that I could clearly see. I gulped at the heat in them. One hand clutched by my mother and the other by Domina, I was guided to the dais. The moment Fizayer clasped my hand in his, I felt a dizzy spell come over me.
Fizayer steadied my shaky legs and looked at me in concern. I took strength from him and reassured him with a smile.
Facing forward, I saw the room and its occupants. Half of them were clearly drunk, others looked at us raptly.
The music muted to a soft background and the lights dimmed for the ceremony.
Calmone and my father in law stepped off. Immediately, the dais started elevating taking the two of us with it. Fizayer clutched my waist. I waited for it to stop.
The slow ascent came to a halt only after traveling to half the length of the otherwise tall wall. A platform slid out of the white dais and slid inside the wide, narrow slit in the wall.
A small square of the dark wall in front of me started shifting backward. From above, crystal beaded curtain descended. The countless thread of crystals swayed and sparkled in the yellow light.
Fizayer clasped my hand and nudged me forward. I followed him because I was confused as hell.
Fizayer parted the crystals and motioned me to crouch. I crouched and went inside. Fizayer followed.
I straightened up. Immediately, my eyes went to the two half semi-circles suspended in the air at the center of the small white room. They were thick and made of glass. Due to the short ceiling, they appeared considerably huge.
Fizayer turned to me. "This is Recognizent."
"Umm. Okay. What does it do?" I asked nervously.
"You see the footprints on either side of it?"
I did now. So, I nodded.
"I will stand on this side and you on the other."
I gulped, "Okay."
"Once we both stand, it will start its process. If these two halves meet in the middle and make a circle, it will glow and we will pass."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Don't worry about that."
"But what it means? What does this tell?"
"It will recognize us as mates if it deems fit."
"Oh!"
I worried and prepared myself for the rejection while I nodded for him to start the process. Even though I wanted to run away from this place or at most delay this test, I knew people were waiting.
Why didn't Fizayer tell anything about this before? He never tells me anything.
I slowly went to the other side and stepped on the footprints on the floor. Fizayer did the same. We looked at each other through the gap and waited.
